Central Command

Liquidation price calculator

Enter your entry and leverage to see where the position is liquidated, for a long or a short, on a linear or an inverse contract. Linear and inverse contracts at the same leverage are liquidated at different prices, and the calculator shows both.

How it is worked out

A position is liquidated when its margin plus unrealised P&L falls to the maintenance margin. Solving that for the price, with L for leverage and m for the maintenance margin rate:

Linear long    entry x (1 - 1/L) / (1 - m)
Linear short   entry x (1 + 1/L) / (1 + m)
Inverse long   entry x (1 + m) / (1 + 1/L)
Inverse short  entry x (1 - m) / (1 - 1/L)

Linear contracts (BTC-USDT) settle in USDT. Inverse contracts (BTC-USD) settle in the coin, so a falling price also shrinks the value of the margin. That is why an inverse long is liquidated sooner than a linear long at the same leverage, and an inverse short later than a linear short.

Two results that surprise people

  • A 1x long on a linear contract can't be liquidated, because the price can't fall below zero. A 1x long on an inverse contract is liquidated at about a 50% fall.
  • A 1x short on an inverse contract can't be liquidated by price, since its coin margin gains value as the price rises to offset the loss. A 1x short on a linear contract is liquidated at about a 99% rise.

An example

Long at $100 at 10x with a 0.5% maintenance margin. On a linear contract, liquidation is 100 x 0.9 / 0.995 = $90.45. On an inverse contract, it is 100 x 1.005 / 1.1 = $91.36.

Extra margin and cross margin

Added isolated margin, or the free balance behind a cross-margin position, moves the price further away. Under More, enter the position's size and the extra margin. In cross margin that balance is shared with your other positions, so their losses bring this price closer.

What can differ from your exchange

This is the textbook price, and it is an estimate. Maintenance margin rises with position size, in tiers. When you pick a market, the calculator uses BloFin's published first tier. Exchanges also trigger liquidation on the mark price, not the last trade, and can reserve closing fees. Funding payments change your margin over time too. Once a position is open, the price your exchange shows is the one that counts.

Crypto and leveraged trading can lose all of your money. This is a calculation, not advice.